Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-22
Peculiar People.

Peculiar People.
In one Of the counties in the South
ern part OF the State bodering on Mary
land, the Amish are especially numer-
Gus. In this county, says The Pittsburgh
Dispatch, lives a prominent member of
the church whom we will call Rinehart
though that isn't his name. He is the ]
richest man in all that section. He
never wore coat with buttons on in
his life, and as for ornaments, he never
had so much us q paper collar. He is
a large owner Of railroad stocks and
looks sharply after his interests.
A few years ago there was a big meet
ing of railroad magnates ia Philadel-
phia and Rinehart was present. At the
banquet which followed the meeting
some of the railroaders thought they
would have some fun out Of their back
woods visitor, whose strange dress
made him particularly conspicuous.
\ Accordingly they gave the old man
place at the head Of the table and ask
ED him TO do the honors Of the occasion.
There was a turkey to carve, and Rine-
hart asked if they had any objections to
his doing the job in country style.
Country style, by all means; that
will suit US best" was the reply. The
old gentleman selected the choicest
part of the meat heaped up plate
most beautifully, then replacing the
carving-knife, resumed his seat and
commenced eating. volunteering the
information: Country style is for
every man to help himself"
Another class of religious enthusiasts
are the well-known Dunkards, or Ger
man Baptists. They eschew ornaments
and style, but not to the extent that the
Amish do. Somerset County. in this
State, is said to contain more Dunkards
than any other territory of similar ex-
tent anywhere in the world. These
people call themselves Brethren and
seemingly their lives render the name
appropriate. Formerly they took no
part in politics, but Of late years some of
the more progressive have become
active politicians. A few years ago,
while in Somerset County, the writer
heard Of very successful ruse adopted
by a candidate for some county office
TO secure the support Of these people.
After the usual style Of ofice-seekers,
the gentleman started out on an cleo
Pioneering tour determined to visit the
Dunkard settlements and court the
favor of the Brethren. On his way he
met q friend, an influential farmer,
who ask him where he was going. On
receiving reply the farmer exclaim-
ed:
"Well I'll guarantee you don't get
dozen votes from those people if you 60
there as you are now. Don't you know
how much they are against style? Let
me Tx you up, then you may 60 among
them and your work might amount to
something. You must take off your
tall hat, your gold chain and your fine
shoes and coat. Put on an old SLOUGH
hat Of mine, a pair of cowhide boots
and an old coat and tie a cotton hand
kerchief around your neck"
The candidate had the good sense to
see that the advice of his farmer friend
was sound. and accompanied him to his
home, where he was arrayed in the
hobiliments of rustic. Then he made
the rounds of the Dunkard neighbor-
hood, and when the votes from that
section of the country were reckoned
up, it was found he was far ahead of
all his competitors. He was lected,
and it was borrowed clothing that did